While some economists have declared the recession over, discount retailers that have benefited from the downturn are wagering that consumers will continue to make price their highest priority for this year.

Just days after the Ontario health minister unveiled plans to halve the reimbursement rate for prescriptions filled with generic drugs, the two largest chains in the province altered their operations to deal with the expected loss in revenue.

Category management is too focused on product to serve today’s retailers well, argues Delhaize America Shared Services chief executive officer Rick Anicetti. What is needed is a new approach that puts a retailer’s customers at the center of the equation.